National Library of Armenia Calls for Donations of Books Published Abroad

The National Library of Armenia, the largest and most important library in the Republic of Armenia, has issued a call for donations of all recent books published in the diaspora. In 2012, it will be celebrating 500 years of printing in Armenian, and will be preparing many different programs and exhibitions. For this purpose, it hopes to fill the gaps in its collections.

The National Library is the equivalent of the Library of Congress in the United States. It is the storehouse of the wealth of the Armenian people’s knowledge and creativity. It holds copies of books published worldwide from 1515 to the present, as well a periodicals, works of music and art, and other items. At present, its holdings number 6.5 million items, making it the largest library of Armenian works in the world. It is also a center for scientific, cultural, informational, and educational activities.

By donating books to the National Library, Armenians—not only in Armenia, but worldwide—can become aware of and have access to various authors. And this will lead to the study of their works and contribute to their international reputation.

The National Library enjoys good working relations with the great libraries of the world, as well as with many organizations, Armenological centers, and individuals. This gives it the opportunity to introduce Armenian books and culture around the globe, and in exchange to receive many valuable publications from various countries. Nonetheless, Armenian- or foreign-language Armenological publications dealing with Armenian history, literature, culture, and other relevant topics are issued in so many countries and places that they do not always reach the homeland. This is a serious shortcoming for the library, its readers, and of course, publishers and authors. The National Library is thus asking for your help.

It is asking individuals, libraries, and organizations to please send any Armenian- or foreign-language publications—including books, magazines, newspapers, maps, or albums—to the National Library of Armenia, Director Davit Sargsyan, Teryan 72, Yerevan 375009.

For more information, visit www.nla.am, which has an English-language variant, or email Alisa Adamian, director of exchanges and foreign relations, at armnatlib@mail.ru.